Ash tray for vehicles



June 9, 1953 I H. E. sTocK ASH TRAY FOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 27; 1950 Inventor Herman E. Stock ,aymwwfiadx'w Attorneys Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates in general toash trays and more especially to an ash tray to be used in a vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a tiltable ashtray for vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ash tray of durable and economical construction and which automatically empties itself upon being swung upwardly about a horizontal axis.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide an ash tray of the type hereinabove described which maybe detaohably secured to either the :right or left ventilating quarter-window in the corresponding front door of an automobile, and which may be swung upwardly when the ventilating quarter-window is open to automatically hinged cover arranged to automatically open to facilitate emptying ashes from the ash tray when the latter is swung upwardly about a substantially horizontal axis at one end thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ash tray of the type described having cigarette-supporting means and a cigarettesnufier.

Other objects .and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a plan View of th ash tray of this invention including a fragmentary portion of a ventilating window to which the ash tray is attached;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation partly in section, of the ash tray in its normal operating position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ash tray similar to Fig. 2 with the ash tray swung upwardly to empty ashes therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a left-end elevation of the ash tray of Fig. 1;-

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ash tray on line Ere-.5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. .6 is a perspective view of the hinged cover of the ash tray;

Fig, 7 is a perspective view of the resilient clip for detachably securing the ash tray to a window;

Fig. '8 is a side elevation of another form of the ash tray of this invention; and

Fig. 9 is a left-end elevation of the ash tray of Fig. 8. .I

The showing of Figs. 1 through 7 inclusive In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through '7, the ash tray comprises a body H3 provided with a hinged cover H and supporting-means t2, the latter being adapted to detachably mount the body It! on either the left or right ventilating quarter-window of the front door of an automobile.

The body H3 of the ash tray comprises a metal block substantially rectangular in cross section and tapered in the direction of its longitudinal axis so as to be relatively narrow at its-front end and relatively wide at "its rear end (Fig. 1) Moreover, for appearances sake, the front end wall l3 may be sloped downwardly and rearwardly, while the rear end wall 14 may be sloped downwardly and forwardly. The design of the ash tray is further enhanced by providing a V ebottom i5 as shown in Fig. 2.

Extending downwardly into the body H) of the ash tray from its upper surface and intermediate the front and rear walls thereof, is a substantially vertical ash-receiving aperture or pocket 16. Each side wall of the ash-receiving pocket 16 is substantially parallel to its adjacent side of the body Ill and substantially perpendicular to the bottom thereof. The front wall ll of the pocket It extends substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and is substantially perpendicular with respect to the bottom of the ash-receiving aperture, while the transverse rear wall It of the pocket slopes upwardly and rearwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the inclined rear end wall I4 of the body. Intersecting the upper edge of the rear end wall M of the body substantially intermediate its opposite ends and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the body, is a substantially semicylindrical clearance-notch I9.

Formed in the front wall I! of the ash-receiving aperture it and adjacent its upper edge, is a hinge-receiving notch 2!] (Fig. 2) which extends substantially transversely of the body I'll, the over-all length of the notch 20 being less than the Width of the body [0 at this point, SO as '00 provide upstanding walls 2 i2| at opposite ends respectively of the notch. In thi connection, the upper edge of each side wall of the body is out recessed rearwardly adjacent the front wall I! of the ash-receiving aperture It to the rear end wall it of the body by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the cover II as shown in Fig. 3, so that the cover will normally lie substantially flush with the upper surface of the body.

Provided in the upper surface of the body l0 the notch 2t as shown in Fig. 5.

between its front end wall l3 and the front wall I! of its ash-receiving aperture I6 is a cigarettesnufiing aperture 22. Moreover, formed integrally with or otherwise secured to the opposite sides respectively of the body of the ash tray are laterally projecting stop-ribs 23 which extend outwardly and substantially vertically along the respective sides of the body If! in the position shown in Fig. 3, each stop-rib 23 being adapted with the clip l2 to support the ash tray in a substantially horizontal plane in the manner hereinafter described.

The cover H of the ash tray, shown in Fig. 6, comprises a sheet-metal member shaped generally to conform to the shape of the upper surface of the body H) of the ash tray. The forward end of the cover is notched at its opposite sides and the portion of the forward end of the cover between these notches is formed into a pair of hinge eyes 24 adapted to be received in the hinge-receiving notch 20 of the body It. The hinge eyes are rotatably mounted in the aforesaid notch 2e on a hinge pintle 25 which extends through the respective end walls 2| of portion of the cover H is designed to extend beyond the rear end wall [4 of the body IQ of the ash tray, and is provided with a depending substantially semicylindrical trough 26 which extends across the rear end-portion of the cover on an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof, the radius of the depending semicylindrical trough 26 corresponding substantially to the radius of the semicylindrical notch IS in the rear end wall l4 of the body, so that the underside of the trough 25 may seat in the aforesaid notch I8 when the cover is in its normal closed position with respect to the body as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be clear that the trough 26 in the rear end of the cover H is adapted to support a cigarette over the ash-receiving aperture l6 of the body It.

The body Iii of the ash tray is adapted to be pivotally mounted on a ventilating quarter-window of a vehicle so as to be upwardly swingable to automatically empty ashes from the ash-receiving aperture it of the ash tray. To this end, the supporting means I2 of the body H! comprises substantially flat resilient sheet metal bent intermediate its opposite ends into a U- shaped fastening-element or clip, the legs 21 and 28 of which are adapted to frictionally engage on opposite sides respectively of a ventilating quarter-window of an automobile. Moreover, it is desirable to augment the grip of the resilient legs of the clip by friction means 38, interposed between the glass and the legs of the clip. Such friction means may be a coating of tacky material applied to the inner surfaces of the legs of the clip, or a rubber or rubber-like lining secured thereon. Preferably, however, a strip of friction tape corresponding substantially to the overall dimensions of the respective legs of the clip is bent around the vertical back edge of the window with its forwardly extending portions adhered to the corresponding sides of the glass.

Thus, when the clip is slid forwardly over the .friction tape, frictional engagement of the resilient legs therewith serves to hold the clip from inadvertent displacement from the rear edge of the window.

In order to facilitate application of the U- shapedfastening-element or clip onto the win- -do w,. the free end 29 of the leg 21 is bent outwardly slightly to present a curvilinear surface The rear endto the rear edge of the window. The opposite leg 28 of the clip [2 is provided with an inwardly offset rib 30 which extends the full height of the leg 23 and forms a spacer member between the juxtaposed sides of the clip leg 28 and the body [0 for facilitating pivotal movement of the latter relative to the clip. A substantially shallow groove is formed by the rib 30 in the opposite or outer face of the leg 28 and serves to accommodate the head of pivotal means, such as a screw 3|, so that the head of the screw will be disposed in a plane below the plane of the upper edge of the leg 28. The inwardly offset rib 39 is shown provided with an aperture 32 adjacent its upper edge and an aperture 33 adjacent its lower edge, either one of which is adapted to accommodate'the pivotal screw 3| used to pivotally secure the leg 28 of the clip to the outer side wall of the body [0 of the ash tray, the two apertures 32 and 33 respectively being provided so that the clip may be pivotally secured to either side of the ash tray, whereby the latter may be used on either the right or left ventilating quarter window of a vehicle.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward edge 34 of the leg 28 of the clip is adapted normally to abut the offset rib 23 on the corresponding side of the body ll] of the ash tray, to hold the latter in its normal substantially-horizontal position, the corners of the forward edge 34 of the leg 28 being rounded so as to permit the offset rib 23 to pass thereover when the body of the ash tray is swung upwardly about the pivotal screw 3| of the clip, to the position shown in Fig. 3. Although the resilient clip is a preferred supporting-means for the ash tray, it is within the purview of the invention to pivotally secure the ash tray directly on the quarter-window by a screw or equivalent means.

Operation of the showing of Figs. 1 through 7 I inclusive Assuming that the clip [2 is pivotally secured to one side of the body [0 of the ash tray in the manner hereinabove described, then the ash tray is adapted to be detachably secured to the proper ventilating quarter-window of a vehicle by sliding the clip over the lower rear portion of the window, the clamping pressure of the respective legs 21' and 28 of the clip on the window, augmented by the friction means interposed between the legs 2128 and the adjacent sides of the window, serves securely to hold the ash tray on the window. Moreover, the bottom edges of the legs of the clip may rest against the customary Window frame channel at the lower portion of the window to further preclude unauthorized retray, the ventilating quarter window is swung outwardly sufficiently to bring the ash tray to the outside of the car, whereupon the forward end of the ash tray is swung upwardly about the pivotal screw 3| of the clip into an upright position shown in Fig. 3, for instance. Simultaneously, vthe hinged cover II will swing outwardly and rear- 5, in the manner shown in Fig. 3', so that the cover will not interfere with the automatic emptying of the ash tray. The ash tray is then swung forwardly and downwardly to its normal ash receiving position where it is held by engagement of the forward edge 34' of the. clip leg 28 with the corre'- sponding ofiset rib 23 on the body of the ash tray, the cover l l simultaneously gravitating into its normal position overlying the ash receiving aperture it of the ash tray. It will be clear from the showing in Fig. 3 that upon swinging the ash tray upwardly past a substantially perpendicular position with respect to its pivotal screw 3|, the ash tray rib 23 opposite the clip leg 28, will be brought into engagement with the upper edge thereof, whereupon the ash tray will be positive- 1 held in a semi-inverted position to facilitate cleaning out the ash receiving apertures of the tray. Furthermore, the ash tray rib 23 in conjunction. with the adjacent upper edge of the clip leg 28 suggests the practice of emptying the tray in. a forceful manner by flipping the same over into its ash dumping position, especially with such force that the tray strikes against thev upper edge of the leg 28 with a force equal or similar to that usually employed in knocking an inverted ash tray against a refuse depository, for instance, for the purpose of thoroughly emptying the tray. For the purpose of identifying these stop provisions on the bracket in some of the hereto appended claims, the forward edge 34 and the upper edge of the clip leg 28 may be referred to as stop surfaces on the clip. The feature of removing the contents of the ash tray therefrom by knocking the latter in its substantially inverted ash dumping position against the top edge of the clip leg 28, is enhanced by the pivoted cover l l which gravitates into open position when the ash tray is flipped over into its ash-dumping position, and adds to the force of the shock of the ash tray against the top edge of the clip leg 28 by virtue of the fact that the greater part of the mass of the cover is formed by the non-hinged end of the latter and the cigarette holding trough 26 thereon so that the cover overswings considerably beyond the position shown in Fig. 3 and thereby momentarily shifts the center of gravity of the ash tray and cover a maximum distance away from the pivot axis of the ash tray.

The showing of Figs. 8 and 9 inclusive In the showing of Figs. 8 and 9 inclusive, certain of the parts correspond to those previously described herein and such parts have reference characters applied thereto which correspond to those previously employed. In this form of the invention, the body 35 of the ash tray is substantially identical to the body it of the ash tray hereinabove described, except that in this form of the invention, the ash tray is not provided with a cover and, consequently, the upper edges of the body 35 of the ash tray present smooth substantially unbroken surfaces. Moreover, the clip l2, for the pivotal mounting of the body 35 on the ventilating quarter window of an automobile door, is substantially identical to the clip shown and hereinabove described.

The distinguishing feature of the ash tray shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises the holding means for supporting a cigarette over the ash receiving aperture 36 in the body of the ash tray. As shown in Fig. 9, the holding means comprises a pair or laterally spaced fingers 3'! formed of resilient wire or fiat resilient sheet-metal stock, each finger being suitably secured at its lower end to the upper surface of the rear end wall 38 of the ash tray body 35, and both fingers projecting upwardly therefrom in substantially outwardly diverging relationship. The upper ends of the fingers are preferably turned outwardlyto form a diverging throat to facilitate entry of a cigarette between the resilient fingers.

Inasmuch as the pivotal supporting means of the ashtray is identical to that hereinabove described, it will suffice to say that the ash tray shownin Figs; 8 and 9 is used in a similar manner, that to say, it is adapted to be detachably mounted on either the right or left ventilating quarter window of a vehicle by means of the resilient clip I 2, and to be swung upwardly about the pivotal screw 3! of the clip to empty the ashes and cigarette butts from the tray. Sincethe rcsi-lient fingers ill-3l serve to positively hold a cigarette therein, the ash tray may be emptied even while holding a cigarette between the fingers of the ash tray, without dislodgement of the cigarette' therefrom.

The ash tray of this invention is thus characterized by its adaptability to either the right or left ventilating quarter window of a vehicle, the pivotal supporting-means of the ash tray permitting the latter to be swung upwardly so as to empty the contents therefrom, while the simultaneous displacement of the cover of the ash tray relative thereto facilitates removal of the ashes and cigarette butts from the up-swung ash tray.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An ash tray for a substantially vertically hinged ventilation window of an automotive vehicle, comprising an ash receptacle having opposite side walls and an open top; and a U-shaped clip having opposite legs and a connecting yoke and being adapted resiliently to straddle an end edge of a ventilation window, said receptacle being pivotally mounted on one leg of said clip about an axis extending near one end of said receptacle transversely of the side walls thereof so that said receptacle may be placed in its substantially horizontal ash receiving position entirely within the confines of the window when said clip is attached to the latter and is turnable into an ash-dumping position, the side wall of said receptacle nearest said clip being provided with an external protrusion; and stop surfaces on said one clip leg, one of said stop surfaces being the free forward edge of said one clip leg, said edge being adapted to be engaged by said protrusion on said receptacle in its ash-receiving position, and the other stop surface being adapted to be engaged by said protrusion on said receptacle in its ashdumping position and said protrusion on said receptacle being adapted to be struck against another stop surface to knock the contents of the receptacle therefrom.

2. An ash tray as set forth in claim 1, in which said other stop surface of said one clip leg the upper edge portion of the leg adjacent the forward edge on which said protrusion is adapted to rest in the ash dumping position of said receptacle and against which said protrusion may be struck to knock the contentsof the receptacle therefrom. I

3. An ash tray for a substantially vertically hinged ventilation window of an automotive vehicle, comprising an ash receptacle havin 01 1 site side walls and an open top; a bracket on which said receptacle is pivotally mounted about an axis extending near one end of said receptacle transversely of the side walls thereof; stop surfaces on said bracket, one of said stop surfaces being adapted to be engaged by said receptacle in its substantially horizontal ash receiving position, and one other stop surface being adapted to be engaged by said receptacle in its substantially inverted ash dumping position and said receptacle may be struck thereagainst to knock its contents therefrom; an apertured cover for the top of said receptacle, said cover being hinged to said receptacle with that end thereof which is remote from the pivot mounting of said receptacle so that said cover will gravitate away from and then onto the open top of said receptacle on swinging the latter into its ash dumping and ash receiving positions, respectively, and said cover being provided at the non-hinged end thereof HERMAN E. STOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,568 Wilde Apr. 27, 1897 1,503,949 Helm Aug. 5, 1924 1,962,575 Silverman June 12, 1934 2,140,612 Zeman Dec. 20, 1938 2,303,980 Bonbright Dec, 1, 1942 2,459,459 Seaman Jan. 18, 1949 2,576,019 Kisselle Nov. 20, 1951 

